Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle includes a pair of front wheels, at least a pair of rear wheels, a frame portion supported by the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels, a first seat portion and a second seat portion supported by the frame portion and arranged side by side in a width direction of the vehicle, a steering wheel in front of the first seat portion, and a roll-over protection cage supported by the frame portion and covering the first seat portion, the second seat portion and the steering wheel. The first seat portion includes a first seat back portion which has a first backrest surface. The second seat portion includes a second seat back portion which has a second backrest surface. The first seat portion and the second seat portion are adjacent to each other in a width direction of the vehicle. At a height of a lower end of the steering wheel, a center of the second backrest surface is at a more rearward position than a center of the first backrest surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vehicles, and more specifically to avehicle having a plurality of seat portions arranged side by side in awidth direction.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there is proposed a variety of off-road vehicles (e.g.,Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs)).

For example, US2012/0217078A1 discloses a vehicle which includes a pairof front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, a frame, a roll-over protectioncage, and a bench seat assembly. The frame is supported by the pair offront wheels and the pair of rear wheels. The roll-over protection cageand the bench seat assembly are supported by the frame.

The bench seat assembly includes a driver's seat, a passenger's seat anda center passenger's seat arranged side by side in a width direction ofthe vehicle within the roll-over protection cage. The driver's seat hasa backrest surface, the passenger's seat has a backrest surface, thecenter passenger's seat has a backrest surface, and these backrestsurfaces are at the same position as each other in a fore-aft direction.

In the vehicle according to US2012/0217078A1, the driver who sits in thedriver's seat and a passenger who sits in the center passenger's seatare substantially at the same position in the fore-aft direction. Aproblem in this case is that there is a fair chance for the driver'sshoulder or arm to hit the passenger's. This can sometimes disturbsmooth driving operation of the driver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide avehicle in which mutual contact between the driver and the passenger issignificantly reduced or prevented.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vehicleincludes a pair of front wheels; at least a pair of rear wheels; a frameportion supported by the pair of front wheels and the pair of rearwheels; a first seat portion and a second seat portion supported by theframe portion and arranged side by side in a width direction of thevehicle; a steering wheel in front of the first seat portion; and aroll-over protection cage supported by the frame portion and coveringthe first seat portion, the second seat portion and the steering wheel.In this vehicle, the first seat portion includes a first seat backportion including a first backrest surface; the second seat portionincludes a second seat back portion including a second backrest surface;the first seat portion and the second seat portion are adjacent to eachother in the width direction of the vehicle; and the second backrestsurface has a center at a more rearward position than a center of thefirst backrest surface at a height of a lower end of the steering wheel.

According to the present preferred embodiment, at the height of thelower end of the steering wheel, the center of the second backrestsurface of the second seat portion is at a more rearward position thanthe center of the first backrest surface of the first seat portion. Inthis arrangement, the passenger's shoulder position in the second seatportion is at a more rearward position than the position of the driver'sshoulders in the first seat portion. Therefore, the present preferredembodiment of the present invention is capable of reducing or preventingcontact between the driver (particularly his/her shoulder and arm) andthe passenger (particularly his/her shoulder and arm). As a result, thepresent preferred embodiment of the present invention offers undisturbeddriving of the vehicle to the driver.

Preferably, the first seat portion further includes a first seat bottomportion; the second seat portion further includes a second seat bottomportion; and the center of the second backrest surface is at a morerearward position than the center of the first backrest surface at theheight of the lower end of the steering wheel when the first seat bottomportion's rearward end position and the second seat bottom portion'srearward end position are at a same position as each other in a fore-aftdirection. In this case, contact between the driver and the passenger isreduced or prevented even if the second seat portion is not shifted in afore-aft direction with respect to the first seat portion.

Further preferably, the first backrest surface and the second backrestsurface tilt rearward, and the second backrest surface's rearward tiltangle is greater than the first backrest surface's rearward tilt angle.In this case, the passenger's shoulder position in the second seatportion is at a lower position than the position of the driver'sshoulders in the first seat portion. This sufficiently reduces contactbetween the driver and the passenger.

Further, preferably, the first seat portion is adjustable in itsposition in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle, and the center of thesecond backrest surface is at a more rearward position than the centerof the first backrest surface at the height of the lower end of thesteering wheel when the first seat portion is disposed at its mostrearward position. In this case, at the height of the lower end of thesteering wheel, the center of the second backrest surface is at a morerearward position than the center of the first backrest surfaceregardless of the position of the first seat portion. Therefore, contactbetween the driver and the passenger is reduced regardless of theposition of the first seat portion.

Preferably, the first backrest surface and the second backrest surfacetilt rearward; and the second backrest surface's rearward tilt angle andthe first backrest surface's rearward tilt angle cannot be set to anidentical angle when the first seat bottom portion's rearward endposition and the second seat bottom portion's rearward end position arethe same as each other in a fore-aft direction. In this case, contactbetween the driver and the passenger is reduced reliably even if thefirst seat back portion and the second seat back portion are reclinable.

Further preferably, the first seat portion further includes a firstheadrest portion; the second seat portion further includes a secondheadrest portion; and the second headrest portion is at a more rearwardposition than the first headrest portion. In this case, the passenger'sshoulder position in the second seat portion is shifted easily to a morerearward position than the position of the driver's shoulders in thefirst seat portion. Specifically, contact between the driver and thepassenger is sufficiently reduced or prevented with such a simplearrangement.

Further, preferably, the vehicle further includes a third seat portionsupported by the frame portion and disposed on a side away from thefirst seat portion when viewed from the second seat portion. In thiscase, it is possible for the driver and two passengers to sit side byside in line. Contact between the driver and the passenger is reduced orprevented in such a vehicle as the above.

Preferably, the vehicle further includes a grab bar on a side of thesteering wheel, in front of the second seat portion. In this case, thepassenger sitting in the second seat portion can grab the grab bar whileavoiding contact with the driver.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a frame portion, a seat unit, a steeringwheel and a roll-over protection cage.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main frame portion.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the main frame portion and the roll-overprotection cage.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the main frame portion, a pair ofsuspension assemblies for front wheels, a rotation transmission portionfor the front wheels, a pair of suspension assemblies for rear wheels,and a rotation transmission portion for the rear wheels.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pair of suspension assembliesfor front wheels and the pair of suspension assemblies for rear wheels.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing the pair of suspension assemblies forfront wheels and the rotation transmission portion for the front wheels.

FIG. 12 is a rear view showing the pair of suspension assemblies forrear wheels, the rotation transmission portion for the rear wheels, anda rear stabilizer.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the frame portion, the seat unit, thesteering wheel, the roll-over protection cage, an engine and a pair ofpropeller shafts.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the main frame portion, showing a statewhere the steering wheel and a transfer mechanism are mounted thereon.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the steering wheel and the transfermechanism.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing an arrangement of the transfer mechanismand its surrounds.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the transfer mechanismand the surrounding area.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing the frame portion, the seat unit, theroll-over protection cage and a shoulder bolster portion.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the frame portion, the seat unitand the shoulder bolster portion.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a seat frame portion, the seat unit andthe shoulder bolster portion.

FIG. 21 is a rear view showing the seat frame portion, the seat unit andthe shoulder bolster portion.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing a first portion and a seat frame.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view showing the seat unit taken in lines A-A(see FIG. 13).

FIG. 24 is a front view showing the frame portion, the seat unit, a grabbar and the roll-over protection cage.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing an arrangement of the seat unit and thesurrounding area with a driver and two passengers sitting in the seatunit.

FIG. 26 is a side view showing the arrangement of the seat unit and thesurrounding area with a driver and two passengers sitting in the seatunit.

FIG. 27 is a front view showing the arrangement of the seat unit and thesurrounding area with a driver and two passengers sitting in the seatunit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. It is noted that the termsfront and rear, right and left, up and down as used in the descriptionof preferred embodiments of the present invention are determined fromthe driver's position on a seat portion 198 of a vehicle 10, with thedriver facing toward a steering wheel 20.

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, a vehicle 10 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention preferably is afour-wheel-drive recreational off-highway vehicle (ROV), and includes apair of front wheels 12, a pair of rear wheels 14, a frame portion 16, aseat unit 18, a steering wheel 20, a grab bar 21, a roll-over protectioncage 22, a shoulder bolster portion 23 and a cargo bed 24. The frameportion 16 is supported by the pair of front wheels 12 and the pair ofrear wheels 14. Referring to FIG. 6, the frame portion 16 includes amain frame portion 16 a supported by the pair of front wheels 12 (seeFIG. 1) and the pair of rear wheels 14 (see FIG. 1); and a seat frameportion 16 b supported by the main frame portion 16 a. The seat unit 18is supported by the seat frame portion 16 b.

Referring to FIG. 7, the main frame portion 16 a includes a pair of sideframe portions 25 a, 25 b extending in a fore-aft direction. The sideframe portion 25 a and the side frame portion 25 b are parallel orsubstantially parallel to each other. The side frame portion 25 a andthe side frame portion 25 b have their respective forward ends connectedto each other by a cross member 26 extending in a left-right direction(a width direction of the vehicle 10).

From the cross member 26, a pair of side frame portions 28 a, 28 bextend forward. In the width direction of the vehicle 10, the side frameportions 28 a, 28 b are on an inner side than the side frame portions 25a, 25 b. The side frame portion 28 a and the side frame portion 28 b areparallel or substantially parallel to each other. A pair of supportframe portions 30 a, 30 b extend upward from respective rearward regionsof the side frame portions 28 a, 28 b.

Above the side frame portions 28 a, 28 b, a pair of side frame portions32 a, 32 b extend forward from the support frame portions 30 a, 30 b.The side frame portion 32 a and the side frame portion 32 b are parallelor substantially parallel to each other.

The side frame portions 28 a, 28 b have their forward end regionsconnected to respective forward end regions of the side frame portions32 a, 32 b by a pair of support frame portions 34 a, 34 b extending inan up-down direction. The side frame portions 28 a, 28 b have theirrearward regions connected to respective rearward regions of the sideframe portions 32 a, 32 b by a pair of support frame portions 36 a, 36 bextending in an up-down direction. The support frame portions 36 a, 36 bare at a more rearward position than the support frame portions 34 a, 34b.

The side frame portions 32 a, 32 b have their forward end regionsconnected to a pair of support frame portions 38 a, 38 b. The supportframe portions 38 a, 38 b extend upward from the side frame portions 32a, 32 b, and then obliquely in a rearward and upward direction. Thesupport frame portions 30 a, 30 b have their upper ends connected torespective rearward end regions of the support frame portions 38 a, 38b. The support frame portions 38 a, 38 b have their rear ends connectedto a cross member 40 extending in a left-right direction.

From the cross member 40, a U-shaped or substantially U-shaped frameportion 42 extends forward, below the support frame portions 38 a, 38 b.The U-shaped or substantially U-shaped frame portion 42 includes two endregions connected to respective end regions of the cross member 40. TheU-shaped or substantially U-shaped frame portion 42 includes anintermediate portion connected to the support frame portions 38 a, 38 b.

The side frame portion 25 a and the side frame portion 25 b have theirrespective rearward end regions connected to each other by a crossmember 44 extending in a left-right direction. From the cross member 44,a pair of side frame portions 46 a, 46 b extend rearward. In the widthdirection of the vehicle 10, the side frame portions 46 a, 46 b are onan inner side than the side frame portions 25 a, 25 b. The side frameportion 46 a and the side frame portion 46 b are parallel orsubstantially parallel to each other.

At a more forward position than the cross member 44, a pair of supportframe portions 48 a, 48 b extend obliquely in an upward and rearwarddirection from the pair of side frame portions 25 a, 25 b. At a higherposition than the side frame portions 46 a, 46 b, a pair of side frameportions 50 a, 50 b extend in a fore-aft direction. The side frameportion 50 a and the side frame portion 50 b are parallel orsubstantially parallel to each other. In the width direction of thevehicle 10, the side frame portions 50 a, 50 b are located fartheroutward than the side frame portions 46 a, 46 b. The cargo bed 24 (seeFIG. 1) is supported by the side frame portions 50 a, 50 b. The sideframe portions 50 a, 50 b have their forward end regions connected torespective upper end regions of the support frame portions 48 a, 48 b.The support frame portions 48 a, 48 b have their upper ends connected toa cross member 52 extending in a left-right direction.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the side frame portions 46 a, 46 b andthe side frame portions 50 a, 50 b are connected to each other by a pairof support frame portions 54 a, 54 b which extend in an up-downdirection and a pair of support frame portions 56 a, 56 b which extendin an up-down direction. The support frame portions 54 a, 54 b arelocated at a more forward position than the support frame portions 56 a,56 b. The side frame portion 50 a and the side frame portion 50 b areconnected to each other by a cross member 58 extending in a left-rightdirection. The cross member 58 is at a position which is more rearwardthan the support frame portions 54 a, 54 b and more forward than thesupport frame portions 56 a, 56 b.

In the width direction of the vehicle 10, there is provided a pair ofL-shaped or substantially L-shaped support frame portions 60 a, 60 b onrespective outer sides of the side frame portions 25 a, 25 b. Thesupport frame portion 60 a is connected to the side frame portion 25 avia a plate frame portion 62 a, whereas the support frame portion 60 bis connected to the side frame portion 25 b via a plate frame portion 62b.

Referring to FIG. 7, the support frame portions 60 a, 60 b have theirupper regions connected to two end regions of the U-shaped orsubstantially U-shaped frame portion 42 via connecting members 64 a, 64b. A pair of support frame portions 66 a, 66 b extend obliquely in anupward and rearward direction from rearward regions of the support frameportions 60 a, 60 b. The support frame portions 66 a, 66 b have theirsubstantially intermediate regions connected to two end regions of thecross member 52.

A pair of support frame portions 68 a, 68 b extend upward fromsubstantially intermediate regions of the side frame portions 25 a, 25b. A pair of support frame portions 70 a, 70 b extend in a left-rightdirection, being supported by upper ends of the support frame portions68 a, 68 b. The support frame portion 70 a has an end region (left endregion in the present preferred embodiment) connected to a forward endregion of a support frame portion 72 a which extends in a fore-aftdirection, whereas the support frame portion 70 b has an end region(right end region in the present preferred embodiment) connected to aforward end region of a support frame portion 72 b which extends in afore-aft direction.

The support frame portion 72 a has a forward region connected to thesupport frame portion 60 a by a support frame portion 74 a which extendsin an up-down direction, whereas the support frame portion 72 b has aforward region connected to the support frame portion 60 b by a supportframe portion 74 b which extends in an up-down direction. The supportframe portion 72 a has a rearward region connected to the support frameportion 66 a via a connecting member 76 a, whereas the support frameportion 72 b has a rearward region connected to the support frameportion 66 b via a connecting member 76 b.

Behind the support frame portion 70 a, a support frame portion 78 a isparallel or substantially parallel to the support frame portion 70 a,whereas behind the support frame portion 70 b, a support frame portion78 b is parallel or substantially parallel to the support frame portion70 b. The support frame portion 78 a has an end region (left end regionin the present preferred embodiment) connected to the support frameportion 72 a, whereas the support frame portion 78 b has an end region(right end region in the present preferred embodiment) connected to thesupport frame portion 72 b.

A pair of support frame portions 80 a, 80 b extend forward fromsubstantially intermediate regions of the support frame portions 48 a,48 b. The support frame portions 80 a, 80 b have their forward endregions connected to the support frame portions 78 a, 78 b.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the seat unit 18 is supported by thesupport frame portions 70 a, 70 b, 78 a, 78 b of the main frame portion16 a via the seat frame portion 16 b. Referring to FIG. 1, the steeringwheel 20 is in front of the seat portion 198, which will be describedlater, of the seat unit 18. The grab bar 21 is in front of the seat unit18 next to the steering wheel 20 in the width direction of the vehicle10. The roll-over protection cage 22 covers the seat unit 18, thesteering wheel 20 and the grab bar 21. The roll-over protection cage 22is supported by the frame portion 16.

Referring to FIG. 8, the roll-over protection cage 22 includes a pair ofside cage members 82, 83 extending in a fore-aft direction; a pair ofroof members 84 a, 84 b extending in a left-right direction; and a crossmember portion 86 extending in a left-right direction.

The side cage member 82 includes a main body portion 82 a which has ashape of an inverted letter of U or a shape substantially of an invertedletter of U, in a side view; and a connecting portion 82 b at a rearwardregion of the main body portion 82 a. The connecting portion 82 bprotrudes inward (rightward in the present preferred embodiment) fromthe main body portion 82 a in the width direction of the vehicle 10. Theside cage member 83 includes a main body portion 83 a which has a shapeof an inverted letter of U or a shape substantially of an invertedletter of U, in a side view; and a connecting portion 83 b at a rearwardregion of the main body portion 83 a. The connecting portion 83 bprotrudes inward (leftward in the present preferred embodiment) from themain body portion 83 a in the width direction of the vehicle 10.

The main body portions 82 a, 83 a are supported by the frame portion 16.More specifically, the main body portion 82 a has an end region (forwardend region in the present preferred embodiment), which is connected toan upper end region of the support frame portion 60 a; and the main bodyportion 82 a has another end region (rearward end region in the presentpreferred embodiment), which is connected to an upper end region of thesupport frame portion 66 a. The main body portion 82 a is fixed to thesupport frame portions 60 a, 66 a with, e.g., fasteners (such as boltsand nuts). Likewise, the main body portion 83 a has an end region(forward end region in the present preferred embodiment), which isconnected to an upper end region of the support frame portion 60 b; andthe main body portion 83 a has another end region (rearward end regionin the present preferred embodiment), which is connected to an upper endregion of the support frame portion 66 b. The main body portion 83 a isfixed to the support frame portions 60 b, 66 b with, e.g., fasteners(such as bolts and nuts).

The roof members 84 a, 84 b connect an upper region of the side cagemember 82 to an upper region of the side cage member 83. The roof member84 b is at a more rearward position than the roof member 84 a. The roofmember 84 b is at a higher position than a back support portion 210 tobe described later (see FIG. 18) of the seat unit 18.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the cross member portion 86includes a support member 88, a support member 90 and a support member92. The support member 90 is at an intermediate portion in the widthdirection of the vehicle 10, the support member 88 connects the supportmember 90 and the side cage member 82 to each other, and the supportmember 92 connects the support member 90 and the side cage member 83 toeach other.

Referring to FIG. 5, the support member 88 includes a main body portion88 a extending in a left-right direction; a mounting portion 88 b fixedto an intermediate region of the main body portion 88 a; a connectingportion 88 c fixed to an end region (left end region in the presentpreferred embodiment) of the main body portion 88 a; and a connectingportion 88 d fixed to another end region (right end region in thepresent preferred embodiment) of the main body portion 88 a. To themounting portion 88 b, a headrest portion 218, which will be describedlater, of the seat unit 18 is attached. The connecting portion 88 c isconnected detachably from/attachably to the connecting portion 82 b ofthe side cage member 82. Specifically, the connecting portion 88 c isconnected to the connecting portion 82 b of the side cage member 82 withunillustrated fasteners (such as bolts and nuts), for example. Theconnecting portion 88 d is connected to a connecting portion 90 d, whichwill be described later, of the support member 90 with unillustratedfasteners (such as bolts and nuts).

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the support member 90 includes a mainbody portion 90 a which has a shape of an inverted letter of U or ashape substantially of an inverted letter of U, in a front view; amounting portion 90 b located at an upper end region, i.e., anintermediate region, of the main body portion 90 a; and a mountingportion 90 c which extends obliquely upward from the main body portion90 a on a side closer to the support member 88 when viewed from themounting portion 90 b. Referring to FIG. 4, the upper end region of themain body portion 90 a is at a more rearward position than the main bodyportion 88 a and a main body portion 92 a to be described later.Therefore, referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the mounting portion 90 b isat a more rearward position than the mounting portion 88 b and amounting portion 92 b to be described later.

Referring to FIG. 5, a headrest portion 222, which will be describedlater, of the seat unit 18 is attached to the mounting portion 90 b. Aseat belt unit 298 which will be described later (see FIG. 18) isattached to the mounting portion 90 c, for example.

The support member 90 further includes a pair of connecting portions 90d, 90 e fixed to the main body portion 90 a. The connecting portion 90 dis on a side closer to the support member 88 than the mounting portion90 c when viewed from the mounting portion 90 b, whereas the connectingportion 90 e is on a side closer to the support member 92 when viewedfrom the mounting portion 90 b. As has been described earlier, theconnecting portion 90 d is connected to the connecting portion 88 d ofthe support member 88. The connecting portion 90 e is connected to aconnecting portion 92 d, which will be described later, of the supportmember 92 with unillustrated fasteners (such as bolts and nuts), forexample.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the support member 90 further includes apair of connecting portions 90 f, 90 g fixed to two end regions of themain body portion 90 a. The main body portion 90 a has two end regionsconnected detachably from/attachably to the side frame portions 50 a, 50b via the connecting portions 90 f, 90 g. Specifically, the connectingportions 90 f, 90 g of the support member 90 are connected to the sideframe portions 50 a, 50 b with unillustrated fasteners (such as boltsand nuts), for example.

Referring to FIG. 5, the support member 92 includes a main body portion92 a extending in a left-right direction; a mounting portion 92 b fixedto an intermediate region of the main body portion 92 a; a connectingportion 92 c fixed to an end region (right end region in the presentpreferred embodiment) of the main body portion 92 a; and a connectingportion 92 d fixed to another end region (left end region in the presentpreferred embodiment) of the main body portion 92 a. A headrest portion226, which will be described later, of the seat unit 18, is attached tothe mounting portion 92 b. The connecting portion 92 c is connecteddetachably from/attachably to the connecting portion 83 b of the sidecage member 83. Specifically, the connecting portion 92 c is connectedto the connecting portion 83 b of the side cage member 83 withunillustrated fasteners (such as bolts and nuts), for example. As hasbeen described earlier, the connecting portion 92 d is connected to theconnecting portion 90 e of the support member 90.

Due to the arrangement described above, the cross member portion 86 isattached detachably from/attachably to the side frame portions 50 a, 50b of the frame portion 16 and the side cage members 82, 83 of theroll-over protection cage 22.

Referring to FIG. 9 through FIG. 12, the vehicle 10 further includes apair of suspension assemblies 94 a, 94 b which suspend the pair of frontwheels 12 (see FIG. 1); a rotation transmission portion 96 whichtransmits rotation from an engine 178 (see FIG. 13), which will bedescribed later, to the pair of front wheels 12; a pair of suspensionassemblies 98 a, 98 b which suspend the pair of rear wheels 14 (see FIG.1); a rotation transmission portion 100 which transmits rotation fromthe engine 178 to the pair of rear wheels 14; and a rear stabilizer 102which connects the suspension assemblies 98 a, 98 b to each other. Theframe portion 16 (see FIG. 1) is supported by the pair of front wheels12 and the pair of rear wheels 14 via the suspension assemblies 94 a, 94b, 98 a, 98 b. In the present preferred embodiment, the suspensionassemblies 94 a, 94 b, 98 a, 98 b preferably are double wishbone typesuspension assemblies, for example.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the suspension assembly 94 a includesan upper arm 104, a lower arm 106, a knuckle arm 108 and a shockabsorber 110. The upper arm 104 and the lower arm 106 are provided by Aarms for example.

Referring to FIG. 11, the upper arm 104 includes a rear arm portion 112which includes a first end portion 112 a; a front arm portion 114 whichincludes a second end portion 114 a and is at a more forward positionthan the rear arm portion 112; and a connecting portion 115 whichconnects the rear arm portion 112 and the front arm portion 114 to eachother.

The first end portion 112 a is an end region (right end region in thepresent preferred embodiment) of the rear arm portion 112, whereas thesecond end portion 114 a is an end region (right end region in thepresent preferred embodiment) of the front arm portion 114. Theconnecting portion 115 connects another end region (left end region inthe present preferred embodiment) of the rear arm portion 112 andanother end region (left end region in the present preferred embodiment)of the front arm portion 114 to each other.

The lower arm 106 includes a rear arm portion 116 which includes a firstend portion 116 a; a front arm portion 118 which includes a second endportion 118 a and is at a more forward position than the rear armportion 116; and a connecting portion 120 which connects the rear armportion 116 and the front arm portion 118 to each other.

The first end portion 116 a is an end region (right end region in thepresent preferred embodiment) of the rear arm portion 116, whereas thesecond end portion 118 a is an end region (right end region in thepresent preferred embodiment) of the front arm portion 118. Theconnecting portion 120 connects another end region (left end region inthe present preferred embodiment) of the rear arm portion 116 andanother end region (left end region in the present preferred embodiment)of the front arm portion 118 to each other.

Referring to FIG. 9, the upper arm 104 is supported by the support frameportions 34 a, 36 a pivotably in an up-down direction. Morespecifically, referring to FIG. 11, the first end portion 112 a of therear arm portion 112 is pivotably supported at an upper end region ofthe support frame portion 36 a (see FIG. 9), whereas the second endportion 114 a of the front arm portion 114 is pivotably supported at anupper end region of the support frame portion 34 a (see FIG. 9).

Referring to FIG. 9, the lower arm 106 is supported by the support frameportions 34 a, 36 a pivotably in an up-down direction at a lowerposition than the upper arm 104. More specifically, referring to FIG.11, the first end portion 116 a of the rear arm portion 116 is pivotablysupported at a lower end region of the support frame portion 36 a (seeFIG. 9), whereas the second end portion 118 a of the front arm portion118 is pivotably supported at a lower end region of the support frameportion 34 a (see FIG. 9).

The connecting portion 115 of the upper arm 104 is connected to an upperend region of the knuckle arm 108 via a ball joint 122, whereas theconnecting portion 120 of the lower arm 106 is connected to a lower endregion of the knuckle arm 108 via a ball joint 124. Thus, the upper arm104 and the lower arm 106 are pivotable in an up-down direction withrespect to the knuckle arm 108. Also, the knuckle arm 108 is pivotablein a fore-aft direction with respect to the upper arm 104 and the lowerarm 106.

The shock absorber 110 has a lower end region supported pivotably in aleft-right direction by the upper arm 104 (the connecting portion 115).Referring to FIG. 9, the shock absorber 110 has an upper end regionsupported pivotably in a left-right direction by the U-shaped orsubstantially U-shaped frame portion 42 via a support member 126.Referring to FIG. 6, the support member 126 has a shape of an invertedletter of U or substantially a shape of an inverted letter of U in aside view, and is fixed to the U-shaped or substantially U-shaped frameportion 42.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the suspension assembly 94 b issymmetrical to the suspension assembly 94 a in a left-right direction,and includes an upper arm 128, a lower arm 130, a knuckle arm 132, and ashock absorber 134. The knuckle arm 132 is connected to the upper arm128 and the lower arm 130 via ball joints 136, 138.

The shock absorber 134 has a lower end region supported by the upper arm128 pivotably in a left-right direction. Referring to FIG. 9, the shockabsorber 134 has an upper end region supported pivotably in a left-rightdirection by the U-shaped frame portion 42 via a support member 140.Like the support member 126, the support member 140 has a shape of aninverted letter of U or substantially an inverted letter of U in a sideview, and is fixed to the U-shaped or substantially U-shaped frameportion 42.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the rotation transmission portion 96includes a differential device 142, a pair of drive shafts 144 a, 144 b,a pair of constant-velocity joints 146 a, 146 b, and a pair of axles 148a, 148 b. The differential device 142 is located between the suspensionassembly 94 a and the suspension assembly 94 b in the width direction ofthe vehicle 10. The differential device 142 is supported by the mainframe portion 16 a. The differential device 142 is connected to theengine 178 (see FIG. 13) which will be described later, via a propellershaft 180 (see FIG. 13) which will be described later.

Referring to FIG. 11, the differential device 142 includes a pair ofconstant-velocity joints 142 a, 142 b and a main body portion 142 c. Theconstant-velocity joint 142 a is on a left end region of the main bodyportion 142 c, whereas the constant-velocity joint 142 b is on a rightend region of the main body portion 142 c. The drive shafts 144 a, 144 bextend in a left-right direction, to connect the constant-velocityjoints 142 a, 142 b with the constant-velocity joints 146 a, 146 b. Morespecifically, the drive shaft 144 a extends obliquely in a leftwardlydownward direction from the constant-velocity joint 142 a and isconnected to the constant-velocity joint 146 a, whereas the drive shaft144 b extends obliquely in a rightwardly downward direction from theconstant-velocity joint 142 b and is connected to the constant-velocityjoint 146 b. The drive shaft 144 a passes below the upper arm 104 andabove the lower arm 106, whereas the drive shaft 144 b passes below theupper arm 128 and above the lower arm 130. In the present preferredembodiment, in a front view, the drive shaft 144 a passes between theupper arm 104 and the lower arm 106, whereas the drive shaft 144 bpasses between the upper arm 128 and the lower arm 130.

The constant-velocity joint 146 a and the axle 148 a are connected toeach other and are supported rotatably by the knuckle arm 108. Theconstant-velocity joint 146 b and the axle 148 b are connected to eachother and are supported rotatably by the knuckle arm 132. The axle 148 asupports the left front wheel 12 (see FIG. 1), whereas the axle 148 bsupports the right front wheel 12 (see FIG. 1).

The suspension assemblies 98 a, 98 b and the rotation transmissionportion 100 can be any appropriate known components, so the suspensionassemblies 98 a, 98 b and the rotation transmission portion 100 will bedescribed only briefly.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, the suspension assembly 98 a includesan arm portion 150 and a shock absorber 152. In the present preferredembodiment, the arm portion 150 includes an upper arm 154, a lower arm156 and a knuckle arm 158. Referring to FIG. 9, the upper arm 154 issupported by the support frame portions 54 a, 56 a pivotably in anup-down direction. The lower arm 156 is supported by the support frameportions 54 a, 56 a pivotably in an up-down direction at a lowerposition than the upper arm 154. More specifically, the upper arm 154 issupported at substantially intermediate regions in an up-down directionof the support frame portions 54 a, 56 a, whereas the lower arm 156 issupported by lower end regions of the support frame portions 54 a, 56 a.The shock absorber 152 connects the main frame portion 16 a and the armportion 150 (lower arm 156 in the present preferred embodiment) to eachother. More specifically, the shock absorber 152 has an upper end regionsupported pivotably by an end region (left end region in the presentpreferred embodiment) of the cross member 58, whereas the shock absorber152 has a lower end region supported pivotably by the lower arm 156.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, the suspension assembly 98 b issymmetrical with the suspension assembly 98 a in a left-right direction,and includes an arm portion 160 and a shock absorber 162. In the presentpreferred embodiment, the arm portion 160 includes an upper arm 164, alower arm 166 and a knuckle arm 168. Referring to FIG. 9, the upper arm164 is supported by the support frame portions 54 b, 56 b pivotably inan up-down direction. The lower arm 166 is supported by the supportframe portions 54 b, 56 b pivotably in an up-down direction at a lowerposition than the upper arm 164. More specifically, the upper arm 164 issupported at substantially intermediate regions in an up-down directionof the support frame portions 54 b, 56 b, whereas the lower arm 166 issupported by lower end regions of the support frame portions 54 b, 56 b.The shock absorber 162 connects the main frame portion 16 a and the armportion 160 (lower arm 166 in the present preferred embodiment) to eachother. More specifically, the shock absorber 162 has an upper end regionsupported pivotably by another end region (right end region in thepresent preferred embodiment) of the cross member 58, whereas the shockabsorber 162 has a lower end region supported pivotably by the lower arm166.

Referring to FIG. 10, the rear stabilizer 102 is at a more forwardposition than the shock absorbers 152, 162, and connects the arm portion150 of the suspension assembly 98 a and the arm portion 160 of thesuspension assembly 98 b to each other. In the present preferredembodiment, the rear stabilizer 102 connects the upper arm 154 and theupper arm 164 to each other.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, the rotation transmission portion 100includes a differential device 170, a pair of drive shafts 172 a, 172 b,a pair of constant-velocity joints 174 a, 174 b, and a pair of axles 176a, 176 b. The differential device 170 is between the suspension assembly98 a and the suspension assembly 98 b in the width direction of thevehicle 10. The differential device 170 is supported by the main frameportion 16 a. The differential device 170 is connected to the engine 178(see FIG. 13) which will be described later, via a propeller shaft 182(see FIG. 13) which will be described later.

The drive shafts 172 a, 172 b connect the differential device 170 withthe constant-velocity joints 174 a, 174 b. The constant-velocity joint174 a and the axle 176 a are connected to each other and are supportedrotatably by the knuckle arm 158. The constant-velocity joint 174 b andthe axle 176 b are connected to each other and are supported rotatablyby the knuckle arm 168. The axle 176 a supports the left rear wheel 14(see FIG. 5), whereas the axle 176 b supports the right rear wheel 14(see FIG. 5).

Referring to FIG. 13, the engine 178 is supported at a rearward regionof the main frame portion 16 a. Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 13, amajority of the engine 178 is within a space surrounded by the sideframe portions 25 a, 25 b, the side frame portions 46 a, 46 b, thesupport frame portions 48 a, 48 b, the side frame portions 50 a, 50 b,and the support frame portions 54 a, 54 b. In the present preferredembodiment, at least a portion of the engine 178 is at a more rearwardposition than the roll-over protection cage 22.

Referring to FIG. 13, the propeller shaft 180 extends forward from alower end region of the engine 178, whereas the propeller shaft 182extends rearward from a lower end region of the engine 178. In order toavoid complication in the drawing, the propeller shaft 180 and thepropeller shaft 182 are illustrated only partially in FIG. 13.

The propeller shaft 180 is connected to the differential device 142 (seeFIG. 10), whereas the propeller shaft 182 is connected to thedifferential device 170 (see FIG. 10). Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 13,rotation from the engine 178 is transmitted by the propeller shaft 180,the differential device 142, the drive shafts 144 a, 144 b, theconstant-velocity joints 146 a, 146 b, and the axles 148 a, 148 b, tothe pair of front wheels 12. Thus, the pair of front wheels 12 arerotated. Also, referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, rotation from theengine 178 is transmitted by the propeller shaft 182, the differentialdevice 170, the drive shafts 172 a, 172 b, the constant-velocity joints174 a, 174 b, and the axles 176 a, 176 b, to the pair of rear wheels 14.Thus, the pair of rear wheels 14 are rotated.

Referring to FIG. 14 through FIG. 17, the vehicle 10 further includes atransfer mechanism 184 which transmits movements of the steering wheel20 to the pair of front wheels 12. The transfer mechanism 184 can be anyappropriate known rack and pinion type transfer mechanism, for example.Therefore, the transfer mechanism 184 will be described only briefly.The transfer mechanism 184 includes a steering column portion 186, asteering shaft portion 188, a rack-and-pinion portion 190 and a pair oftie rods 192 a, 192 b.

The steering column portion 186 is hollow, rotatably supporting thesteering wheel 20. The steering column portion 186 is supported by across member 40 of the frame portion 16 via brackets 194, 196.

The steering shaft portion 188 includes a first shaft 188 a and a secondshaft 188 b. The first shaft 188 a is inserted into the steering columnportion 186 rotatably. The first shaft 188 a has an upper end region(not illustrated) connected to the steering wheel 20. The first shaft188 a has a lower end region connected to an upper end region of thesecond shaft 188 b.

The second shaft 188 b has a lower end region connected to therack-and-pinion portion 190. Since the rack-and-pinion portion 190 canbe any known rack-and-pinion portion, the rack-and-pinion portion 190will not be described in any more detail. The tie rods 192 a, 192 b passbehind the shock absorbers 110, 134 and above the upper arms 104, 128,to connect the rack-and-pinion portion 190 with the knuckle arms 108,132.

Movement of the steering wheel 20 is transmitted through the steeringshaft portion 188, the rack-and-pinion portion 190 and the pair of tierods 192 a, 192 b, to the knuckle arms 108, 132. Then the knuckle arms108, 132 pivots in a left-right direction, to steer the pair of frontwheels 12.

Referring to FIG. 18 through FIG. 21, the seat unit 18 includes aplurality (for example, three in the present preferred embodiment) ofseat portions 198, 200, 202 arranged side by side in this order in thewidth direction of the vehicle 10. In the width direction of the vehicle10, the seat portion 200 is in the middle of the seat unit 18. In otherwords, the seat portion 200 is adjacent to the seat portion 198 and isadjacent to the seat portion 202 in the width direction of the vehicle10. When viewed from the seat portion 200, the seat portion 202 is onthe side away from the seat portion 198. Referring to FIG. 18 and FIG.19, the steering wheel 20 is in front of the seat portion 198.Specifically, in the present preferred embodiment, the seat portion 198is a seat portion for the driver, whereas the seat portions 200, 202 areseat portions for passengers.

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat portion 198 includes a seatbottom portion 204 which supports a human body from below, and a backsupport portion 206 which supports the human body from behind. Likewise,the seat portion 200 includes a seat bottom portion 208 and a backsupport portion 210, whereas the seat portion 202 includes a seat bottomportion 212 and a back support portion 214.

The back support portion 206 includes a seat back portion 216 whichsupports the back of the human body, and a headrest portion 218 whichsupports the head of the human body. Likewise, the back support portion210 includes a seat back portion 220 and the headrest portion 222,whereas the back support portion 214 includes a seat back portion 224and a headrest portion 226.

In the present preferred embodiment, the seat portion 198 represents thefirst seat portion, the seat portion 200 represents the second seatportion, the seat portion 202 represents the third seat portion, theseat bottom portion 204 represents the first seat bottom portion, andthe seat bottom portion 208 represents the second seat bottom portion.Also, in the present preferred embodiment, the seat back portion 216represents the first seat back portion, the seat back portion 220represents the second seat back portion, the headrest portion 218represents the first headrest portion, and the headrest portion 222represents the second headrest portion.

The seat bottom portion 204 includes a seat surface 204 a which supportsthe buttocks of the human body, the seat bottom portion 208 includes aseat surface 208 a which supports the buttocks of the human body, andthe seat bottom portion 212 includes a seat surface 212 a which supportsthe buttocks of the human body. Referring to FIG. 20, the seat backportion 216 includes a backrest surface 216 a which supports the back ofthe human body, the seat back portion 220 includes a backrest surface220 a which supports the back of the human body, and the seat backportion 224 includes a backrest surface 224 a which supports the back ofthe human body. In the present preferred embodiment, each of the seatsurfaces 204 a, 208 a, 212 a includes a downward receding recess in itsmiddle region in a left-right direction. Each of the backrest surfaces216 a, 220 a, 224 a includes a backward receding recess in its middleregion in a left-right direction. The seat unit 18 is supported by theseat frame portion 16 b, with each of the backrest surfaces 216 a, 220a, 224 a tilted backward.

In the present preferred embodiment, the backrest surface 216 arepresents the first backrest surface, whereas the backrest surface 220a represents the second backrest surface.

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat frame portion 16 b includes aseat frame 228 which supports the seat portion 198, a seat frame 230which supports the seat portion 200, and a seat frame 232 which supportsthe seat portion 202. In the present preferred embodiment, the seatframe 228 supports the seat bottom portion 204 and the seat back portion216 of the seat portion 198, the seat frame 230 supports the seat bottomportion 208 and the seat back portion 220 of the seat portion 200, andthe seat frame 232 supports the seat bottom portion 212 and the seatback portion 224 of the seat portion 202.

Referring to FIG. 5, as has been described earlier, the headrest portion218 of the seat portion 198 is attached to the mounting portion 88 b ofthe cross member portion 86, the headrest portion 222 of the seatportion 200 is attached to the mounting portion 90 b of the cross memberportion 86, and the headrest portion 226 of the seat portion 202 isattached to the mounting portion 92 b of the cross member portion 86.Referring to FIG. 8, as has been described earlier, the mounting portion90 b is at a more rearward position than the mounting portions 88 b, 92b. Therefore, referring to FIG. 20, the headrest portion 222 is at amore rearward position than the headrest portions 218, 226.

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat frame 228 has a pair ofbottom frame portions 234 extending in a fore-aft direction and a backframe portion 236 extending in an up-down direction. In the presentpreferred embodiment, the pair of bottom frame portions 234 and the backframe portion 236 are integral with each other. The back frame portion236 is shaped in an inverted letter of U or substantially in an invertedletter of U in a rear view, extending obliquely in an upwardly rearwarddirection from rear ends of the pair of bottom frame portions 234. Tothe back frame portion 236, a connecting member 282, which will bedescribed later, of the shoulder bolster portion 23 is fixed.

The seat frame 228 further includes a cross member 238 which connectsforward end regions of the pair of bottom frame portions 234 to eachother, and a cross member 240 which connects rearward end regions of thepair of bottom frame portions 234 to each other. Referring to FIG. 20and FIG. 22, the seat bottom portion 204 has its forward end regionattached to the cross member 238 via a mounting member 242. Referring toFIG. 20 through FIG. 22, the seat bottom portion 204 has its rearwardend region supported by the cross member 240. Thus, the seat bottomportion 204 is supported by the pair of bottom frame portions 234 viathe cross members 238, 240.

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat frame 228 further includes aplurality (three in the present preferred embodiment, only two are shownin FIG. 20) of brackets 244 fixed to the back frame portion 236. Theseat back portion 216 is attached to the plurality of brackets 244.Thus, the seat back portion 216 is supported by the back frame portion236.

Referring to FIG. 20 through FIG. 22, the seat frame 228 furtherincludes a pair of brackets 246 and a pair of brackets 248. Each of thebrackets 246 is fixed to a forward region of the bottom frame portion234, whereas each of the brackets 248 is fixed to a rearward region ofthe bottom frame portion 234. Referring to FIG. 20, each bracket 246includes a plurality (for example, three in the present preferredembodiment) of through-holes 246 a penetrating in an up-down direction,whereas each bracket 248 includes a plurality (for example, three in thepresent preferred embodiment) of through-holes 248 a penetrating in anup-down direction.

Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 18 and FIG. 20, the pair of brackets 246 arefixed to the support frame portion 70 a of the frame portion 16, whereasthe pair of brackets 248 are fixed to the support frame portion 78 a ofthe frame portion 16. Thus, the seat frame 228 is fixed to the supportframe portions 70 a, 78 a. Specifically, the seat portion 198 (the seatbottom portion 204 and the seat back portion 216 as components of theseat portion 198, in the present preferred embodiment) is supported bythe frame portion 16.

The support frame portion 70 a includes a pair of through-holes (notillustrated) at positions corresponding to the pair of brackets 246,whereas the support frame portion 78 a includes a pair of through-holes(not illustrated) at positions corresponding to the pair of brackets248. In the present preferred embodiment, the brackets 246 and thesupport frame portion 70 a are connected to each other by, e.g.,inserting a fastener (such as a bolt) through one of the through-holes246 a in each bracket 246 and a corresponding one in the support frameportion 70 a. Likewise, the bracket 248 and the support frame portion 78a are connected to each other by, e.g., inserting a fastener (such as abolt) through one of the through-holes 248 a in each bracket 248 and acorresponding one in the support frame portion 78 a.

In the present preferred embodiment, one through-hole 246 a isappropriately selected from the three through-holes 246 a in eachbracket 246 for connection between the support frame portion 70 a andthe brackets 246. Likewise, one through-hole 248 a is appropriatelyselected from the three through-holes 248 a in each bracket 248 forconnection between the support frame portion 78 a and the brackets 248.Thus, the seat portion 198 (the seat bottom portion 204 and the seatback portion 216 as components of the seat portion 198 in the presentpreferred embodiment) is adjustable in its position in a fore-aftdirection. In the present preferred embodiment, the headrest portion 218of the seat portion 198 does not move in a fore-aft direction.

For example, the through-hole 246 a at the most forward position in eachof the brackets 246 and the through-hole 248 a at the most forwardposition in each of the brackets 248 are used to connect the brackets246, 248 to the support frame portions 70 a, 78 a. In this case, theseat portion 198 (the seat bottom portion 204 and the seat back portion216) is disposed at the most rearward position. Also, for example, thethrough-hole 246 a at the most rearward position in each of the brackets246 and the through-hole 248 a at the most rearward position in each ofthe brackets 248 are used to connect the brackets 246, 248 to thesupport frame portions 70 a, 78 a. In this case, the seat portion 198(the seat bottom portion 204 and the seat back portion 216) is disposedat the most forward position. In FIG. 6, solid lines show the seatbottom portion 204 and the seat back portion 216 disposed at their mostrearward positions, whereas alternate long and short dash lines show theseat bottom portion 204 and the seat back portion 216 at their mostforward positions. It should be noted here that the vehicle 10 may bearranged such that the seat portion 198 is slidable with respect to themain frame portion 16 a in a fore-aft direction.

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat frame 230 includes a pair ofbottom frame portions 250 extending in a fore-aft direction and a backframe portion 252 extending in an up-down direction. The pair of bottomframe portions 250 preferably have the same shape as the pair of bottomframe portions 234. The back frame portion 252 preferably has the sameshape as the back frame portion 236 except that it is tilted morerearward than the back frame portion 236.

The seat frame 230 further includes a cross member 254 which is of thesame design as the cross member 238, a cross member 256 which is of thesame design as the cross member 240, and a plurality (for example, threein the present preferred embodiment, only two are shown in FIG. 20) ofbrackets 258 which are of the same design as the plurality of brackets244.

Referring to FIG. 20, the seat bottom portion 208 has its forward endregion attached to the cross member 254 via a mounting member 260. Theseat bottom portion 208 has its rearward end region supported by thecross member 256. Thus, the seat bottom portion 208 is supported by thepair of bottom frame portions 250 via the cross members 254, 256.Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat back portion 220 is attachedto the plurality of brackets 258. Thus, the seat back portion 220 issupported by the back frame portion 252.

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat frame 230 further has a pairof brackets 262 and a pair of brackets 264. Each of the brackets 262 isfixed to a forward region of the bottom frame portion 250, whereas eachof the brackets 264 is fixed to a rearward region of the bottom frameportion 250. Referring to FIG. 20, each of the brackets 262 includes athrough-hole 262 a penetrating in an up-down direction, whereas each ofthe brackets 264 includes a through-hole 264 a penetrating in an up-downdirection.

Referring to FIG. 18 and FIG. 20, the bracket 262 on the left side isfixed to a right end region of the support frame portion 70 a withunillustrated fasteners (such as bolt and nut) for example, whereas thebracket 262 on the right side is fixed to a left end region of thesupport frame portion 70 b with unillustrated fasteners for example.Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 20, the bracket 264 on the left side isfixed to a right end region of the support frame portion 78 a withunillustrated fasteners, for example, whereas the bracket 264 on theright side is fixed to a left end region of the support frame portion 78b with unillustrated fasteners, for example. Thus, the seat frame 230 isfixed to the support frame portions 70 a, 70 b, 78 a, 78 b.Specifically, the seat portion 200 (the seat bottom portion 208 and theseat back portion 220 as components of the seat portion 200 in thepresent preferred embodiment) is supported by the frame portion 16.

As has been described earlier, the back frame portion 252 of the seatframe 230 tilts more rearward than the back frame portion 236 of theseat frame 228. For this reason, the seat back portion 220 which issupported by the back frame portion 252 has a greater rearward tiltingangle than the seat back portion 216 which is supported by the backframe portion 236. More specifically, the backrest surface 220 a of theseat back portion 220 tilts more rearward than the backrest surface 216a of the seat back portion 216. Referring to FIG. 6, a straight line L2drawn to pass through a lower and an upper ends of the center in aleft-right direction of the backrest surface 220 a (see FIG. 20) has agreater rearward tilt than a straight line L1 drawn to pass through alower and an upper ends of the center in a left-right direction of thebackrest surface 216 a (see FIG. 20).

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the seat frame 232 preferably has thesame arrangement as the seat frame 228, and includes a pair of bottomframe portions 266, a back frame portion 268, cross members 270, 272, aplurality of brackets 274, a pair of brackets 276 and a pair of brackets278. The seat frame 232 supports the seat bottom portion 212 and theseat back portion 224. Also, referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 18 and FIG. 20,the brackets 276, 278 of the seat frame 232 are fixed to the supportframe portions 70 b, 78 b. Thus, the seat portion 202 (the seat bottomportion 212 and the seat back portion 224 as components of the seatportion 202 in the present preferred embodiment) is supported by theframe portion 16. Referring to FIG. 20, a connecting member 286, whichwill be described later, of a shoulder bolster portion 23 is fixed tothe back frame portion 268.

In the present preferred embodiment, the seat frame 232 is supported bythe main frame portion 16 a in a non-adjustable manner in a fore-aftdirection. Also, a straight line (not illustrated) assumed to passthrough a lower and an upper ends of the center in a left-rightdirection of the backrest surface 224 a is identical or substantiallyidentical with the line L1 (see FIG. 6). Therefore, the straight line L2(see FIG. 6) has a greater rearward tilt than this line (notillustrated) assumed to pass through the lower and the upper ends of thecenter in a left-right direction of the backrest surface 224 a.

Referring to FIG. 20, in the present preferred embodiment, the backframe portions 236, 252, 268 of the seat frame portion 16 b are notadjustable in their rearward tilting angle. Therefore, the rearwardtilting angle of the backrest surface 216 a and the rearward tiltingangle of the backrest surface 220 a cannot be set to the same as eachother in the vehicle 10. It should be noted here that the seat frameportion 16 b may be constructed such that the back frame portions 236,252, 268 are adjustable in their rearward tilting angle, for example.Even in this case, it is preferable that the seat frame portion 16 b isdesigned so as not to allow the rearward tilting angle of the backrestsurface 216 a and the rearward tilting angle of the backrest surface 220a to be set to the same as each other.

Referring to FIG. 23, in a sectional view of the seat unit 18 taken inlines A-A (see FIG. 13), the backrest surface 220 a of the seat backportion 220 is at a more rearward position than the backrest surface 216a of the seat back portion 216 and the backrest surface 224 a of theseat back portion 224. Specifically, at a height of a lower end of thesteering wheel 20, the backrest surface 220 a is at a more rearwardposition than the backrest surface 216 a and the backrest surface 224 a.In the present preferred embodiment, at the height of a lower end of thesteering wheel 20, a center C2 of the backrest surface 220 a is at amore rearward position than a center C1 of the backrest surface 216 aand a center C3 of the backrest surface 224 a.

It should be noted here that FIG. 18, FIG. 20 and FIG. 23 show the seatunit 18, with the seat portion 198 (the seat bottom portion 204 and theseat back portion 216 in the present preferred embodiment) at its mostrearward position. Referring to FIG. 20, when the seat portion 198 isdisposed at its most rearward position, a rear end of the seat bottomportion 204, a rear end of the seat bottom portion 208 and a rear end ofthe seat bottom portion 212 are at the same or substantially the sameposition in a fore-aft direction. Referring to FIG. 18, when the rearends of the seat bottom portions 204, 208, 212 are at the same positionin the fore-aft direction, the seat bottom portion 204, the seat bottomportion 208, and the seat bottom portion 212 have the same orsubstantially the same height in the width direction of the vehicle 10.

It should be noted here that the center C1 of the backrest surface 216 aand the center C3 of the backrest surface 224 a may be at differentpositions from each other in a fore-aft direction. For example, thecenter C1 of the backrest surface 216 a may be at a more forwardposition than the center C3 of the backrest surface 224 a, or at a morerearward position than the center C3. Also, the center C2 of thebackrest surface 220 a and the center C3 of the backrest surface 224 amay be at different positions from each other in a fore-aft direction.For example, the center C1 of the backrest surface 216 a may be at amore forward position than the center C2 of the backrest surface 220 aand the center C3 of the backrest surface 224 a may be at a morerearward position than the center C2 of the backrest surface 220 a.

Referring to FIG. 18 through FIG. 21, the shoulder bolster portion 23includes a first portion 23 a and a second portion 23 b. In the widthdirection of the vehicle 10, at least a portion of the shoulder bolsterportion 23 is on the outer side of the seat unit 18. Referring to FIG.18, in the present preferred embodiment, in the width direction of thevehicle 10, the entire shoulder bolster portion 23 is located fartherinward than the outermost portion of the roll-over protection cage 22.In other words, in a front view, the entire shoulder bolster portion 23is located farther inward than the outer edge of the roll-overprotection cage 22.

Referring to FIG. 20 through FIG. 22, the first portion 23 a includes afirst shoulder bolster member 280 and a connecting member 282. Referringto FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the second portion 23 b includes a secondshoulder bolster member 284 and a connecting member 286. Each of thefirst shoulder bolster member 280 and the second shoulder bolster member284 is preferably made of a platy member, for example. Each of theconnecting member 282 and the connecting member 286 is provided by apipe member, for example.

The first shoulder bolster member 280 is supported by the connectingmember 282. The connecting member 282 is fixed to the back frame portion236. Thus, the first portion 23 a is supported by the seat frame 228.The second shoulder bolster member 284 is supported by the connectingmember 286. The connecting member 286 is fixed to the back frame portion268. Thus, the second portion 23 b is fixed to the seat frame 232. Inthe arrangement described above, the shoulder bolster portion 23 issupported by the seat frame portion 16 b.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 19, in the width direction of thevehicle 10, a grab bar 21 is provided on a side facing the seat portion200 (facing the seat portion 202) when viewed from the steering wheel20. The grab bar 21 is disposed in front of the seat portion 200 and theseat portion 202. Referring to FIG. 19, the grab bar 21 includes an endregion (a left end region in the present preferred embodiment) insertedinto a tubular connecting member 288, whereas the grab bar 21 includesanother end region (right end region in the present preferredembodiment) inserted into a tubular connecting member 290. The grab bar21 is fixed to the connecting members 288, 290 with unillustratedfasteners (such as bolts and nuts), for example. Referring to FIG. 24,the connecting member 288 is fixed to the cross member 40 via a bracket292 which extends downward from a substantially intermediate region ofthe cross member 40. Referring to FIG. 19, the connecting member 290 isfixed to the cross member 40 via a bracket 294 which extends upward froman end region (right end region in the present preferred embodiment) ofthe cross member 40. In the arrangement, the grab bar 21 is fixed to theframe portion 16.

Referring to FIG. 18, the vehicle 10 further includes a plurality (forexample, three in the present preferred embodiment) of seat belt units296, 298, 300. The seat belt unit 296 is for the seat portion 198, theseat belt unit 298 is for the seat portion 200 and the seat belt unit300 is for the seat portion 202.

Hereinafter, functions and advantages of the vehicle 10 will bedescribed.

In the vehicle 10, at a height of a lower end of the steering wheel 20,the center C2 of the backrest surface 220 a of the seat portion 200 isat a more rearward position than the center C1 of the backrest surface216 a of the seat portion 198. This shifts, referring to FIG. 25 andFIG. 26, the passenger's shoulder position in the seat portion 200 to amore rearward position than the position of the driver's shoulders inthe seat portion 198. Therefore, various preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are capable of reducing or preventing contact betweenthe driver (particularly his/her shoulder and arm) and the passenger(particularly his/her shoulder and arm). As a result, preferredembodiments of the present invention provide the driver with undisturbeddriving of the vehicle 10.

In the vehicle 10, when a rearward end of the seat bottom portion 204and a rearward end of the seat bottom portion 208 are at the samepositions in a fore-aft direction, the center C2 of the backrest surface220 a is at a more rearward position than the center C1 of the backrestsurface 216 a at the height of the lower end of the steering wheel 20.In this case, contact between the driver and the passenger is reduced orprevented without shifting the seat portion 200 (the seat bottom portion208 and the seat back portion 220 in the present preferred embodiment)in a fore-aft direction with respect to the seat portion 198.

In the vehicle 10, the rearward tilting angle of the backrest surface220 a is greater than that of the backrest surface 216 a. In this case,it is possible, referring to FIG. 27, to shift the passenger's shoulderposition in the seat portion 200 to a lower position than the positionof the driver's shoulders in the seat portion 198. This sufficientlyreduces contact between the driver and the passenger.

In the vehicle 10, when the seat portion 198 (the seat bottom portion204 and the seat back portion 216 in the present preferred embodiment)is disposed at the most rearward position, the center C2 of the backrestsurface 220 a is at a more rearward position than the center C1 of thebackrest surface 216 a at the height of the lower end of the steeringwheel 20. Hence, according to the vehicle 10, the center C2 of thebackrest surface 220 a is at a more rearward position than the center C1of the backrest surface 216 a regardless of the position of the seatportion 198. Therefore, contact between the driver and the passenger isreduced or prevented regardless of the position of the seat portion 198.

In the vehicle 10, when a rearward end position of the seat bottomportion 204 and a rearward end position of the seat bottom portion 208are the same as each other in a fore-aft direction, a rearward tiltangle of the backrest surface 216 a and a rearward tilt angle of thebackrest surface 220 a cannot be set to the same angle. This arrangementreliably reduces or prevents contact between the driver and thepassenger. It should be noted here that the seat back portion 216 andthe seat back portion 220 may be of a reclining type, but even in thiscase, it is preferable that the seat unit 18 is designed so as not toallow the rearward tilting angle of the backrest surface 216 a and therearward tilting angle of the backrest surface 220 a to be set to equalto each other.

In the vehicle 10, the headrest portion 222 of the seat portion 200 isat a more rearward position than the headrest portion 218 of the seatportion 198. In this case, the passenger's shoulder position in the seatportion 200 is shifted easily to a more rearward position than theposition of the driver's shoulders in the seat portion 198.Specifically, according to the vehicle 10, contact between the driverand the passenger is sufficiently reduced with such a simple arrangementas described.

The vehicle 10 includes the seat portion 202 located on the side awayfrom the seat portion 198 when viewed from the seat portion 200.Therefore, it is possible in the vehicle 10 for a driver and twopassengers to sit side by side in line. Even in this case, preferredembodiments of the present invention reduce or prevent contact betweenthe driver and the passenger.

In the vehicle 10, a grab bar 21 is provided on a side of the steeringwheel 20, in front of the seat portion 200. In this case, the passengersitting in the seat portion 200 can grab the grab bar 21 while avoidingcontact with the driver.

In the preferred embodiment described above, description was made for acase where the seat bottom portion 204, the seat bottom portion 208 andthe seat bottom portion 212 preferably have the same height, forexample. However, the seat bottom portion 204, the seat bottom portion208 and the seat bottom portion 212 may have different heights.

In the preferred embodiment described above, description was made for acase where the seat unit 18 preferably includes a plurality of seatportions 198, 200, 202 which are made individually from each other, forexample. However, the seat unit may have a plurality of seat portionswhich are made integrally with each other. Therefore, various preferredembodiments of the present invention are also applicable to vehiclesincluding a bench seat.

In the preferred embodiment described above, description was made for acase where the seat back portion and the headrest portion preferably aremade individually from each other. However, the seat back portion andthe headrest portion may be made integral with each other.

In the preferred embodiment described above, description was made for acase where the seat unit 18 preferably includes three seat portions 198,200, 202, for example. However, the number of the seat portions in theseat unit is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above.For example, the seat unit may only include the first seat portion andthe second seat portion, or the seat unit may include four or more seatportions.

In the preferred embodiment described above, description was made for acase where the vehicle 10 preferably includes one seat unit 18, forexample. However, the vehicle may include a plurality (two, for example)of seat units arranged in a fore-aft direction.

In the preferred embodiment described above, description was made for acase where the vehicle 10 preferably includes a pair of rear wheels 14.However, the vehicle may include two or more pairs of rear wheels, forexample.

As long as the following conditions are satisfied, various preferredembodiments of the present invention are also applicable to vehicles inwhich the first seat back portion (represented by the seat back portion216 in the preferred embodiment described above) and the second seatback portion (represented by the seat back portion 220 in the preferredembodiment described above) are not at the height of the lower end ofthe steering wheel. Specifically, at the height of the lower end of thesteering wheel, a straight line (represented by the straight line L2 inthe preferred embodiment described above) which passes a lower end andan upper end of the center in left-right direction of the backrestsurface of the second seat back portion preferably is at a more rearwardposition than a straight line (represented by the straight line L1 inthe preferred embodiment described above) which passes a lower end andan upper end of the center in left-right direction of the backrestsurface of the first seat back portion.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention,therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A vehicle comprising: a pair of front wheels; at leasta pair of rear wheels; a frame portion supported by the pair of frontwheels and the pair of rear wheels; a first seat portion and a secondseat portion supported by the frame portion and arranged side by side ina width direction of the vehicle; a steering wheel in front of the firstseat portion; and a roll-over protection cage supported by the frameportion and covering the first seat portion, the second seat portion andthe steering wheel; wherein the first seat portion includes a first seatback portion including a first backrest surface; the second seat portionincludes a second seat back portion including a second backrest surface;the first seat portion and the second seat portion are adjacent to eachother in the width direction of the vehicle; and the second backrestsurface includes a center located at a more rearward position than acenter of the first backrest surface at a height of a lower end of thesteering wheel.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the firstseat portion includes a first seat bottom portion; the second seatportion includes a second seat bottom portion; and the center of thesecond backrest surface is at a more rearward position than the centerof the first backrest surface at the height of the lower end of thesteering wheel when the first seat bottom portion's rearward endposition and the second seat bottom portion's rearward end position areat a same position as each other in a fore-aft direction.
 4. The vehicleaccording to claim 2, wherein the first backrest surface and the secondbackrest surface tilt rearward; and a rearward tilt angle of the secondbackrest surface is greater than that of the first backrest surface. 5.The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a position of the first seatportion is adjustable in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle; and thecenter of the second backrest surface is at a more rearward positionthan the center of the first backrest surface at the height of the lowerend of the steering wheel when the first seat portion is disposed at itsmost rearward position.
 6. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein thefirst backrest surface and the second backrest surface tilt rearward;and a rearward tilt angle of the second backrest surface and a rearwardtilt angle of the first backrest surface cannot be set to an identicalangle when the first seat bottom portion's rearward end position and thesecond seat bottom portion's rearward end position are same as eachother in a fore-aft direction.
 7. The vehicle according to claim 2,wherein the first seat portion includes a first headrest portion; thesecond seat portion includes a second headrest portion; and the secondheadrest portion is at a more rearward position than the first headrestportion.
 8. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a thirdseat portion supported by the frame portion and disposed on a side awayfrom the first seat portion when viewed from the second seat portion. 9.The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a grab bar on aside of the steering wheel, in front of the second seat portion.